NEW YORK – some find a silver lining in every cloud, but composer Marc Shaiman sees things a little differently. “I’m not even happy with the glass,” he jokes.
Shaiman’s New Memoir Reveals a Lifetime of Showbiz Ups and Downs
Award-winning composer marc Shaiman details a career filled with both triumphs and anxieties in his new memoir, “Never Mind the Happy.”
- Shaiman’s memoir, released Tuesday, chronicles his journey from a teenage musical director for Bette Midler to a celebrated film and Broadway composer.
- The book reveals humorous anecdotes about working with a wide range of stars, including Meryl Streep, Rob Reiner, and Nora Ephron.
- Despite numerous accolades,including two Grammy and two Emmy Awards,Shaiman describes himself as a perpetual pessimist.
- He shares a notably memorable story about accidentally getting Stephen Sondheim high at a party.
- Shaiman emphasizes the importance of persistence and showing up for every possibility in the entertainment industry.
Shaiman, the creative force behind scores for films like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Mary Poppins Returns,” and Broadway hits such as “Hairspray” and “Catch Me If You Can,” cheerfully admits to being an “Eeyore” and a “card-carrying pessimist.” He tells the Associated Press, “Just as soon as something good happens, something bad’s going to happen. I am always waiting for that other shoe to drop, and it inevitably drops.”
What is the secret to longevity in the entertainment industry? According to Shaiman, its about showing up and saying yes to every opportunity, a lesson he details in his new memoir.
“Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a sore Winner,” published Tuesday, offers a candid look at Shaiman’s career and personal life. He explains, “I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot and I’ve been lucky enough to have an outrageous longevity. I thought, ‘Let me write it down, finally.'”
The memoir traces Shaiman’s rise from his New Jersey upbringing to becoming Bette Midler’s musical director in his teens. He recounts collaborations with a constellation of stars, including Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Luther Vandross, raquel Welch, and Rob Reiner. He also details a professional disagreement with producer Scott Rudin and a humorous disagreement with Nora ephron, whom he playfully imagines critiquing the heavenly harps. (“I’m certain she’s in heaven,telling all the angels she doesn’t like harps,” he writes.) He was also a key figure in the early days of “Saturday Night live.”
Shaiman recounts a 1999 incident where he inadvertently got legendary composer Stephen Sondheim so high on marijuana at a party that Sondheim collapsed three times. Shaiman’s initial thought? “I’ve killed Stephen Sondheim.” (Sondheim requested he only share the story after his death.)
He shares a story about observing Meryl Streep meticulously rehearsing a song for “Mary Poppins Returns.” I’d like to give it a try.”
